Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society
The impact of industrial revolution on society should not be understated. It transformed mostly agrarian economies into those oriented oriented towards goods and services. It led to an influx of people from village communities into big, industrial cities with the goal of making a living in the new industry. Subsequently, cities grew, and village lifestyle became less relevant. The middle class of workers also appeared as monthly wages allowed for a more stable income. However, working conditions were often dangerous and working hours were far beyond acceptable. Due to a high influx of workers, little attention was given to their needs as they were completely expendable in the eyes of large industrialists. Child labor was also practiced, even in such dangerous industries as mining (Hudson, 2014).
Do Advantages of Technology Outweigh Disadvantages?
It is difficult to say that rapid and uncontrolled industrialization was a positive force despite the problems it caused. However, speaking of technology on its own, it is just as hard to blame it for how it was used. Primary issues were caused by a lack of consideration for human lives by people in the highest classes. Everything from poor working conditions to the frivolous start of World War I may be seen as a consequence of industrial leaders putting profit over human lives. Technological progress, however, can be seen as inevitability and when used with care it may only improve human lives (Hartwell, 2017).
Does Free Public Education Benefit The Development of Democracy?
The introduction of free public education has been a clear benefit to the development of the United States democracy. Before education became freely available to ordinary people, the opinion of the voters was mostly uninformed about the candidates and the issues they promised to address. It was almost impossible for an uneducated voter to even partially understand the position of a candidate and therefore their choice was not aligned with their needs. Having free public education gave a chance for most people to become educated and even join academia in the future. People became able to not only understand politics but also affect it through activism and political action, which led to more progressive democracy (Montgomery & Kehoe, 2016).
Meaning of Equality
For me, equality represents one of the most important American ideals, even if it is still not fully achieved in society. This includes gender equality, racial equality, and any other type of division that society may contain. There is no reason for a person to receive worse treatment only based on aspects that they have no control over. People should not be prejudged, and statistics should not be used to promote hate and discrimination. It is unfortunate that the United States has fallen behind on its promise of equality, but hopefully, people will not forget about its importance for millions (Baker, Lynch, Cantillon, & Walsh, 2016).
Does Everyone Have a Right to a Job?
I believe that everyone has a right to work because it is a primary source of income, which is required for people to live and prosper. Without such a right, people would be forced to either become criminals or beg to sustain themselves. This can be supported by studies that connect unemployment and poverty to crime. People’s primary concern is the survival of themselves and their family. To survive, they have to work. Otherwise, there would be no food, water, electricity, and even shelter. Therefore, work should be provided. Unfortunately, due to economic turbulence and political issues work may not be easily found, which leads to unemployment and poverty for those that are affected (Peck, 2016).
References
Baker, J., Lynch, K., Cantillon, S., & Walsh, J. (2016). Equality: From theory to action (2nd ed.). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
Hartwell, R. M. (2017). The industrial revolution and economic growth. Abingdon, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Hudson, P. (2014). The industrial revolution. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Montgomery, A., & Kehoe, I. (Eds.). (2016). Reimagining the purpose of schools and educational organisations. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
Peck, J. (2016). The right to work, and the right at work. Economic Geography, 92(1), 4–30.